The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms. Makhotso Sotyu, will lead tree planting as part of the National Arbor Month campaign in Bizana, Eastern Cape on Thursday, 22 September 2022. 

The Deputy Minister’s visit is in response to an invitation from Mhlabuvelile Primary School principal, Ms. N. Maphinda, for assistance in celebrating Arbor Month through an awareness and activation campaign at her school. Upon accepting the invitation Deputy Minister Sotyu extended the invitation to other schools in the area to participate during this Arbor Month activity.

To honour this invitation, the Deputy Minister will donate trees, gardening and maintenance tools as well as waste dustbins to Mhlabuvelile Primary School and 30 more schools the area. 

The National Arbor Month campaign is run annually from 1 – 30 September. The campaign is aimed at sensitising South Africans about the need to conserve, protect and plant trees for environmental and human related ideals. The theme for this year is “Forests and Sustainable Production and Consumption” and focuses on the sustainable development and management of forests in the country. 

Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Ms. Pamela Tshwete and Mayor of Winnie Madilkizela-Mandela Local Municipality, Cllr T D Mafumbatha will join Deputy Minister Sotyu at Mhlabuvelile Primary School principal.

Members of the media are invited to attend the event as follows:

Date:    22 September 2021
Time:   09:00
Venue: Mhlabuvelile Senior Primary School, Ludeke Mission, Bizana

To RSVP, contact: Noma Bolani on 066 112 3746 / nbolani@dffe.gov.za  

For media queries contact: Albi Modise on 083 490 2879

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, FISHERIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT